Chapter 546: Please Respect the Great King

The Great King had long been prepared; he stretched his claw back, very pleased, "Where are our travel permits?" The Great King's beggar disguise was ready—how could the travel permits be missing? Ling Yin passed it over; Wei Shen took a look and said, "Impressive, so realistic it's fake!"

It said they were Huizhou natives, bound for Chang'an, and the date was over a year ago.

The Great King was also quite pleased: "Even more like the real thing than the genuine article. Let the clerk who issues Youzhou travel permits imitate the Huizhou merchants' permits."

Wei Shen: ……

"Then I ask you, once inside, how do you get out? Still need Heaven-Covering? Don't tell me you're not going out, giving up the chance to personally attack Chang'an? I won't do that!" What a rare opportunity!

The Great King gave him a lingering look: "You seem to really like attacking Chang'an, you rebel!"

Wei Shen: ……?

Soon the Great King realized it wasn't that nobody was going—there were still a few scattered people heading for the gate. He also decided to give it a try; if they couldn't get in, they could still escape, and Xiao Jin's arrow-blocking would be very useful. "Look at those crowds on the city wall; our army is also coming from the east, Xuanping Gate will surely be a key defense point, so don't give ourselves away—action!"

They still had some leeway here, but the Marquis of the East Capital was nearly bald-headed.

He only knew the Great King keeps his word; he never expected him to still be in the mood to cause trouble at this point! Hearing the Great King's guard say it was because His Highness had nothing to do, he decided to personally go outside Chang'an to scout the situation—what audacity! Can't he learn from those who came before? Haven't you heard that Bai Li Jun only set out from base camp to march on the capital after taking Chang'an?

The Marquis of the East Capital regretted asking. If he'd known, he shouldn't have taken on all the work; at least find something for the Great King to do. After night fell with no news, the Marquis grew somewhat despairing; a glance told him they were no longer nearby.

He still had a pile of things to do tomorrow, but Liang He persuaded him to lie down. Still worried, he hadn't even fallen asleep when his guard rushed back with a report: Bai Ze has arrived.

The Marquis of the East Capital reacted after a moment, "White what Ze?" He sprang upright.

Outside the tent, white fluff glimmered silver in the night; he had no time to marvel, hurriedly asking if His Highness was in any danger.

Bai Ze lazily didn't speak, just shook his head—only the Great King could get him to talk in front of others, and such chances are few. This time he merely lifted his paw to nudge Heaven-Covering, indicating it should deliver the letter to Liang Jin.

Heaven-Covering Lord looks at everyone with a forty-five-degree arrogance; when the boss gave him a little push, he merely stretched out his left leg, not moving his neck at all……

The Marquis of the East Capital instinctively looked at the big bird, but didn't react at once. Indeed, aside from being in Youzhou, he usually guards Shanggu Pass; such a short distance doesn't warrant a messenger worth three thousand taels, so he lacks experience.

But it was Liang He next door who heard the commotion and came out, he crouched and said politely, "Heaven-Covering Lord, we've offended you." Receiving such treatment from Heaven-Covering Lord delivering a letter is something he's only recently had! And because they're so stupid they can't even open their minds, after being smacked on the head by Heaven-Covering Lord into a big bump, it's impossible for them to react slowly……

In his father's bewildered gaze, Liang He untied a torn cloth strip from Heaven-Covering's claw; as soon as he unfolded it, a crumpled ball of paper fell out……

The Marquis of the East Capital took it, unfolded it, and after looking…… words fail him. It didn't address his most pressing concern at all—Your Majesty, when exactly are you coming back?

Liang He prompted his father: "Reply quickly; Heaven-Covering Lord will take it back."

"All right, all right, all right! Heaven-Covering Lord had better hurry back to protect His Highness!" The Marquis of the East Capital's reply contained just one central idea, not mentioning that Bai Ze wasn't the slightest bit worried about the Great King's safety; having completed the task, he leisurely strolled back to the Great King's royal tent.

As for Heaven-Covering Lord, the Great King hadn't ordered it to return with a reply, nor was it in a hurry to go back; it wanted to go eat first.

After it had eaten its fill, drunk its fill, and finished fishing, the Great King had already entered Xuanping Gate relying on the hard-to-tell-fake high-quality counterfeit travel permit. He was right—just a few days ago, this place only allowed entry, not exit.

While Heaven-Covering Lord was searching the skies for the Great King's silhouette, Ling Yin had already hidden in the shadows; only the Great King, hugging Xiong and Wei Shen, was crouched in a corner of Chang'an Avenue.

This guy, with a mouth pouted enough to hang an oil bottle, said: "……Nothing inside matches what I imagined. The northern border cavalry will arrive soon, the great army is already at the city walls, yet Chang'an shows no sign… of impending storm? Is it a bit disrespectful toward me?!"

There were still pedestrians coming and going on this street; although it wasn't as bustling as when he last came, with crowds shoulder-to-shoulder strolling the streets, there were still plenty of people walking about, and many shops along the side were open. According to the Great King's thinking, shouldn't they be hiding at home? What is this then? Surely he can't break in!

Great King furious·JPG

He finished speaking and didn't hear his cousin's reply; turning his head, he saw Wei Shen staring at the liquor house not far diagonally opposite……

"Cousin!"

Wei Shen had been tossing and turning all night and was exhausted, but the Great King was like a perpetual motion machine. He simply plopped down on the ground, sprawled out—after all, his outer robe wasn't necessarily any cleaner than the street—and even he didn't believe Bai Li Jun could imagine the Northern Border King squatting on Chang'an Avenue.

He let out a soul-searching question: "Aren't you hungry?"

Upon hearing that, the Great King's stomach growled before he could even open his mouth. "Alright, I am a bit hungry." He also looked toward the opposite liquor house: "…That's Deyue Lou." The Great King felt wronged: "Last time I came, I didn't have to pay when I ate at Deyue Lou."

The Great King feared that the plump little Xiao Jin in his arms would attract attention, getting it dirty so its original color couldn't be seen, its fur all matted. This time, following the Great King's gaze, it also looked over—was this a place to eat?

Two half-grown teenagers in ragged clothes, embracing a plump dog, squatted on the street corner; the three of them stared intently at the opposite liquor house, though a bit dirty, their appearance was still decent—this is what passersby saw.

Ding-dong—

Two or three copper coins fell before the Great King……

Great King petrified·JPG

He widened his eyes, stared down at the copper coins, then glanced at the hurrying-away auntie: "Cousin, what… what does she mean?!"

"Pfft—hahahaha……" Wei Shen finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.